Lexi Branson, 4, was killed by her pet dog at her mother's home Credit: ITV News Central

An inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death of a four year-old girl from Leicestershire who died after being attacked by her family's pet bulldog.

Lexi Branson died on Tuesday after being attacked by the dog, called Mulan, in the living room of her mother's flat in Mountsorrel.

The inquest, at Loughborough Coroner's Court, heard the child was confirmed dead at 1.13pm on Tuesday after being airlifted from her home in Rowena Court to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham with serious injuries.

Her mother Jodi Hudson formally identified her daughter's body at the hospital, the officer told the brief hearing.

Det Sgt Henry told the inquest an investigation was "ongoing" into the incident.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), speaking in response to yesterday's attack, said there were "no plans to change the list of banned breeds" despite other reforms being considered by Parliament.